Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Support Group

Thanks for the post. I was recently diagnosed with TOS. It has been 3 years of dealing with the pain. I am scheduled for surgery in a couple of weeks. Do you have any tips or suggestions on how I will feel after surgery? I an a bit nervous.

I have read so many negative responses to this, I am not so afraid, to get the surgery. However, I have had this pain, for 5 years, and in the last 6 months it has gotten so bad, that I can't do anything I used to enjoy.
I am seeing the chief Thoracic Surgeon in Baltimore's Good Samaritan Hospital, and I don't know to believe.

I also had Dr Karass
Do my surgery, I am recovering from my second surgery now. How did everything go for you?

Loved your post......I too was advanced and had my rib resections done at MGH. I still can't practice dental hygiene but have learned to cope and live a little...most of the time anyway. For me the more I do the worse my pain gets. So I have to pick and choose my chores & activities and plan on down time afterward. Coping is a huge part for me as I am still mad I got this...lost my career and can't do things without paying for it later. This TOS is a life changer... a true disability but this site helps...just knowing I am not alone can help when feeling depressed. Yes... we can make it and it could always be worse. Volunteering helped me realize that.

As an 18 year old tennis player I have had TOS for 2 years, and as i was recruited for college tennis I knew I needed to take drastic steps for improvement. I scheduled surgery, and went through with it a month ago. I had every complication there was imaginable. From lymphatic duct leaks, to having a chest tube put in, it was a nightmare. I had a first rib resection, scalene muscles removed, and surgery on my pec minor. I was in the most competent hands but there are many risks with the surgery. I spent 9 days in the hospital, on constant pain medication, nothing ever seemed enough, and they were constantly increasing my dosages. Looking back on it, I wish I had spent more time on my physical therapy. While receiving treatment I continued to play tennis almost every day, or do some workout routine. Whatever you do, do every single exercise they tell you, and do it religiously. I looked at this surgery as a last option and a fix it all, but it is an extremely serious thing to go through. I know I got more than most people have with this surgery, but sitting in a hospital bed helpless for 9 days is something I would never wish upon anyone. Take it from me, someone whose been through it all, DO THE PHYSICAL THERAPY AS BEST AS YOU CAN! I am approaching a month since the day of the surgery and I am still feeling the pain, and I cannot even start the recovery of physical therapy since I have not completely healed yet. I have many months of hard work before I can even think about picking up a tennis racket or even living normally again. If you have any questions please let me know, and I will gladly answer everything. As a side note I was left with an $85,000 hospital bill, without doctors fees ($30,000 just in medicine costs)